Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Chief Nichole Armstrong Anderson. Veteran Deputy Anderson has been appointed as the first female African American police chief of the Broward County Sheriff's Office. For over 16 years, Officer Anderson has remained dedicated to public service and to keeping our community safe. In recognition of her outstanding service record she has been awarded numerous commendations for her job performance and her commitment to upholding and enforcing the law.

Officer Anderson was born on July 8, 1970, and graduated from Dillard High School with honors in June of 1988. She began her law enforcement career with the Florida Department of Corrections as a correctional probation officer in 1994. She was soon offered a position with the Florida Highway Patrol for the position of State trooper. Upon completing a challenging and rigorous six month training program in Tallahassee, FL, she was assigned to Troop C in Tampa, FL. After leaving the Florida Highway Patrol, she began with the Broward County Sherriffs Office and was assigned to road patrol. From there, she was promoted to the rank of sergeant on August 3, 2001, and was assigned to the Tamarac District. Her devotion to public service and commitment to keeping our community safe have led to several promotions.

Her exemplary professional record led Officer Anderson to the rank of lieutenant where she was assigned to the Pompano Beach District. She was later transferred to the position of executive officer to the sheriff. After attending the prestigious Southern Police Institute 114th Administrative Officers Course in 2005, at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, she was assigned to the position of executive officer of the Pompano Beach District Area 2 Command. On November 20, 2010 her outstanding performance led to her selection as the interim chief of the South Broward District and, ultimately, on February 23, 2011, she was sworn in as the chief of the South Broward District.

Over the years she has developed a reputation within the law enforcement community as being diligently committed to her profession.

Officer Anderson is the wife of Frederick Anderson, Sr. and loving mother of Frederick, Jr. I proudly acknowledge her achievement as the first female African American police chief of the Broward County Sherriff's Department and appreciate her tireless work for this community.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 156, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart as I mourn the loss of Detective Roger Castillo, an officer with the Miami-Dade Police. Detective Castillo was a patriot dedicated to upholding and defending the rule of law. He was a man of great courage, conviction, and passion who lived a wonderfully fulfilling life surrounded by a loving family, close friends and admiring colleagues.

Detective Castillo was born on September 29, 1969 in Miami Beach, Florida. He graduated from Southwest High School in 1987 and began his law enforcement career with the Miami-Dade Police Department as a Public Service Aide in 1989. In 1992, he graduated from the police academy and was assigned to the North Operations Division serving the Miami Lakes and Northside Districts. In 1995, Detective Castillo was assigned to the Police Operations Bureau (POB). After a short time in POB, he joined the Court Services Bureau until his transfer to the Warrants Bureau, Felony Apprehension Unit in 2004.

In an effort to keep our community safe, in 2007, Detective Castillo transferred to the Strategic and Specialized Investigations Bureau, Career Criminal Section. He always displayed a positive attitude towards the Miami-Dade Police Department and a level of professionalism like no other.

I mourn alongside the loving family of Detective Castillo, and honor his wife Debbie and children Anthony, Michael, and Bryan. During this difficult time, we will pray for the well-being of the Castillo family.

Detective Castillo's death does not represent an end to his legacy, for his spirit and good deeds live on. His colleagues, friends, and family cherish his legacy as a brave defender of our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in sadness over the tragic loss of Officer Amanda Haworth. Officer Haworth was a patriot dedicated to upholding and defending the rule of law. She served above and beyond the call of duty as an officer with the Miami-Dade County Police Department.

Officer Haworth was born on August 5, 1966, and graduated from Miami Sunset High School in 1984. She joined the Miami-Dade Police Department in October 1988. Upon graduating from the police academy, she was assigned to the Northside Station. Her dedication to her duties encouraged her to further her career, later transferring to the Warrants Bureau, Felony Apprehension Unit in 1994.

Her initiative and tenacity to keep our community safe inspired her to transfer to the Strategic and Specialized Investigations Bureau, Career Criminal Section in January of 2003. Her professionalism and dedication to her profession earned her respect and admiration within the law enforcement community.

Officer Haworth's life and legacy remind us of the noble commitment of public service. Although we lost her too soon, her memory will forever live on in the lives of her family and colleagues in the law enforcement community.

Officer Haworth leaves behind a legacy of achievement and inspiration, for she was an example of what genuine caring and unrelenting commitment can accomplish. She gave tirelessly for the benefit of those around her and will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with the Haworth family, her sons Austin Haworth and Jason Mitchell, her life partner Sgt. Rosie Diaz, and her loving parents, Robert Haworth and Susanne Miller.

Good afternoon. Madam Chair, somewhere in America today a family is losing their home because they can't afford the health care premiums for a diabetic dad and a hypertensive mom. Somewhere in America tonight a child will die because they have been denied health care because of a preexisting condition.

Somewhere in America tomorrow a family will go bankrupt because they took care of a cancer-stricken family member.

Black, white, Hispanic, Asian, urban, rural Republican, Democrat, independent, tea party, it doesn't matter.

At some time in our life we will all get sick. We need health care.

But you know what? We, as Members of Congress, are very fortunate. We all get health care. We get the very best.

But what about Jennifer and Lisa and James and grandma and grandpa and the Johnsons and baby Joshua? We represent them too. They deserve what we get.

My constituents sent me to Washington to preserve the affordable health care legislation. They are proud of the product that the 111th Congress and Nancy Pelosi and President Obama produced. Long live affordable health care legislation.

On behalf of the people of this Nation who depend on our leadership, I call upon you to defeat this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise with my colleagues for one reason--to talk about jobs. My constituents are hurting. They need help. They want to work. I've been here for almost 2 months, and I'm still waiting to hear a Republican plan for jobs. So far this week, the only things I've voted on are our renaming of a courthouse and taking back money that we have already given to the United Nations. When are we going to talk about jobs? I came to Washington to focus on jobs. My constituents sent me to Washington to focus on jobs.

All across the Nation, the high school class of 2011 is getting ready to graduate. Some will go on to higher education, and some will enter the workforce. What type of world are they entering? What type of jobs will await them? I propose that we invest in the class of 2011. Instead of political games and bills that cut jobs, I propose that we invest in education, innovation, and infrastructure. Please, I urge all of my colleagues to turn toward the future of our children--turn toward creating jobs for them.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 12, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''